PLEA BARGAINING

Category: Criminal Procedure

WHAT IS PLEA BARGAINING?

> It is the disposition of criminal charges by agreement between the prosecution and the accused

> The  accused  and  the  prosecutor  in  a  criminal  case  work  out  a mutually  satisfactory  disposition  of  the  case  subject  to  court approval

> It  usually  involves  the  defendant’s  pleading  guilty  to  a  lesser offense  or  to  only  one  or  some  of  the  counts  of  a  multi-count indictment in return for a lighter sentence than that for the graver charge

> It is encouraged because it leads to prompt and final disposition of most  criminal  cases.    It  shortens  the  time  between  charge  and disposition  and  enhances  whatever  may  be  the  rehabilitative prospects of the guilty when they are ultimately imprisoned

WHEN IS PLEA BARGAINING NOT ALLOWED?

> It  is  not  allowed  under  the  Dangerous  Drugs  Act  where  the imposable penalty is reclusion perpetua to death.

WHAT IF THERE IS A PLEA BARGAINING ARRIVED AT?

1.    Issue an order which contains the plea bargaining arrived at;

2.    Proceed to receive evidence on the civil aspect of the case; and

3.    Render and promulgate judgment of conviction, including the civil liability or damages duly established by the evidence.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE WAS NO PLEA BARGAINING AGREEMENT? WHAT WOULD THE COURT DO?

1.    Adopt  the  minutes  of  preliminary  conference  as  part  of  the  pre-trial  proceedings,  confirm  markings  of  exhibits  or  substituted photocopies   and   admissions   on   the   genuineness   and   due
execution of documents and list object and testimonial evidence;
2

.    Scrutinize every allegation of the information and the statements in  the  affidavits  and  other  documents  which  form  part  of  the record  of  the  preliminary  investigation  and  other  documents
identified   and   marked   as   exhibits   in   determining   farther admissions  of  facts,  documents  and  in  particular  as  to  the following:

a.    The identity of the accused;

b.    Court's  territorial  jurisdiction  relative  to  the  offense/s charged;

c.     Qualification of expert witness/es;

d.    Amount of damages;

e.    Genuineness and due execution of documents;

f.     The cause of death or injury, in proper cases;

g.    Adoption   of   any   evidence   presented   during   the preliminary investigation;

h.    Disclosure  of  defenses  of  alibi,  insanity,  self-defense,  exercise  of  public  authority  and  justifying  or  exempting circumstances; and

i.      Such other matters that would limit the facts in issue.

3.    Define factual and legal issues;

4.    Ask parties to agree on the specific trial dates and adhere to the flow  chart  determined  by  the  court  which  shall  contain  the  time frames   for   the   different   stages   of   the   proceeding   up   to
promulgation of decision and use the time frame for each stage in setting the trial dates;

5.    Require  the  parties  to  submit  to  the  Branch  COC  the  names, addresses  and  contact  numbers  of  witnesses  that  need  to  be summoned by subpoena; and

6.    Consider  modification  of  order  of  trial  if  the  accused  admits  the charge but interposes a lawful defense.